Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device of the present invention includes a body unit; a display unit; and an arm unit, arranged upright from the body unit, for supporting the display unit; wherein the arm unit has a hollow structure formed with a pass-through opening and includes a first arm unit and a second arm unit arranged facing each other by way of the opening.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-137112 filed in the Japan Patent Office on May 23,2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

In related art, a structure in which a supporting unit for turnablysupporting a display panel at both ends of a body unit arranged with akeyboard is arranged, and the display panel is supported at twolocations on both ends in the width direction of the display panel isknown in a laptop as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo. 11-102235 as a structure for supporting a display panel arrangedwith a screen of the display device.

In a liquid crystal display panel etc. of a desktop personal computer, asupporting arm is generally arranged standing upward from the body unitof the liquid crystal panel placed on a table etc., and a central partin the width direction of the liquid crystal panel is supported with thesupporting arm.

[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-102235

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, since the display device of the related art relates to astructure of supporting the central part or both ends in the widthdirection of the display panel, the structural portion connecting to thedisplay panel from the body unit by way of the supporting unitinevitably comes into view when the user views the display panel. Thus,for the user, the display panel supporting structure from the displaypanel to the body unit through the supporting unit comes into view eventhough the user wants to carefully look only at the display screen, andan extra structure that is essentially not necessary comes into the viewof the user when the user looks at the screen. The user is thusinhibited from closely looking at the display panel, and thus is notable to focus and closely look only at the display screen.

Components such as backlight and inverter are included in the displaypanel when the display panel is configured by the liquid crystal displaypanel, and the weight of the display panel becomes heavier. Thus, apredetermined rigidity is demanded to support the display panel. Thesupporting member thus cannot be configured in a simplified manner.

The present invention addresses the above-identified problems, and it isdesirable to provide a novel and an improved display device capable ofmaintaining satisfactory designability and enabling the display contentto be reliably recognized by configuring the member for supporting thedisplay panel in a simplified manner.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided,a display device including a body unit; a display unit; and a supportingunit, arranged upright from the body unit, for supporting the displayunit; wherein the supporting unit has a hollow structure formed with apass-through opening and includes two arm units arranged facing eachother by way of the opening.

According to such configuration, the display unit is supported by thesupporting unit arranged upright from the body unit. The supporting unithas a hollow structure formed with a pass-through opening and includestwo arm units arranged facing each other by way of the opening.Therefore, the supporting unit has a configuration excelling inlightness and floating feeling, and furthermore, sufficient strength canbe ensured and satisfactory designability can be maintained when thedisplay unit is configured by a light panel such as organic EL panel.The presence of the supporting unit in the display device is therebylowered, and the user can reliably recognize the display content byclosely looking at the display unit.

Furthermore, a flexible print substrate for electrically connecting thebody unit and the display unit may be accommodated in one of the armunits. According to such configuration, a structure that enables theuser to be unconscious of the presence of the electrical wiring betweenthe body unit and the display unit is obtained.

A cover for covering the flexible print substrate may be arranged on theone arm unit. According to such configuration, a structure in which thepresence of the wiring is not noticeable can be obtained since theflexible print substrate is covered by the arm unit.

The two arm units may be arranged above and below, the flexible printsubstrate being accommodated in the arm unit arranged on the upper side.According to such configuration, the pull-out of the flexible printsubstrate from the arm unit to the display unit can be easily performedsince the flexible print substrate can be accommodated in the arm unitarranged on the upper side.

The two arm units may be formed to a flat plate shape and are faced toeach other by way of the opening. According to such configuration, thethickness of the arm unit on both sides of the opening can be thinnedwhile ensuring the necessary strength, and thus the supporting unit hasa configuration excelling in lightness and floating feeling, and asatisfactory designability can be maintained.

The supporting unit may be arranged on either left or right end sidefrom a center in a horizontal direction of the display unit, andsupports the display unit in a cantilever state. According to suchconfiguration, the supporting unit does not come into the view of theuser, and only the display screen is independently recognized by theuser. Thus, a sense of feeling that the display screen is floating isevoked on the user, and satisfactory designability can be maintained.

Furthermore, the supporting unit may be arranged upright at apredetermined position on the body unit on a back surface side of thedisplay unit, and is arranged inclined towards the display unit withrespect to a perpendicular direction. According to such configuration,the supporting unit is hidden behind the display unit, and thesupporting unit is suppressed from being recognized in the view of theuser. Therefore, a sense of feeling that the display unit is floating inspace can be created to the user, and a display device excelling infloating feeling and lightness can be provided.

The display unit may be connected to the supporting unit by way of ahinge for turnably supporting the display unit with respect to a centeraxis of rotation in the horizontal direction. According to suchconfiguration, a tilt position of the display unit can be suitablyadjusted, and the display screen can be reliably recognized.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a display devicecapable of maintaining a satisfactory designability and enabling thedisplay content to be reliably recognized by configuring the member forsupporting the display panel in a simplified manner is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic perspective views showing an outerappearance of a display device according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the display device seenfrom the left on the front surface side;

FIG. 3 is a frame format view showing a configuration of an arm unit;

FIGS. 4A to 4G are frame format views showing a configuration of the armunit in detail;

FIGS. 5A to 5G are frame format views showing a configuration of a coverof the arm unit in detail;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of adisplay displaying unit;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are plan views showing a configuration of a base plate;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are frame format views showing a configuration of a rearcover;

FIGS. 9A to 9G are frame format views showing a configuration of aT-cover;

FIG. 10 is a frame format view showing a state of the display deviceseen from the rear surface side with the T-cover detached;

FIG. 11 is a frame format view showing a state in which members such asrear cover and bezel are detached from the state of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a hinge;

FIGS. 13A to 13E are frame format views showing a configuration of thehinge in detail;

FIGS. 14A to 14C are frame format views showing a configuration of ashaft in detail;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are frame format views showing an engagement state ofa first hinge plate and a second hinge plate, and the shaft;

FIG. 16 is a frame format view showing a configuration of a lockposition regulating plate;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are frame format views showing a state in which therotation positions of the first hinge plate and the second hinge plateare regulated by the lock position regulating plate; and

FIGS. 18A and 18B are frame format views showing another example of aconfiguration of a shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

[Overall Configuration of Display Device]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic perspective views showing an outerappearance of a display device 1000 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view showing thedisplay device 1000 seen from the upper right on the front surface side.FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the display device 1000 seen fromthe upper right on the back surface side of the display device 1000.FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the display device 1000seen from the left on the front surface side.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, the display device 1000 of the presentembodiment is configured to include a body stand unit (body unit) 100,an arm unit (supporting unit) 200, and a display displaying unit(display unit) 300. The display device 1000 receives televisionbroadcast pictures etc., and displays the same on a display screen 300 aof the display displaying unit 300.

The display displaying unit 300 includes a display panel (organic EL(electro luminescence) panel) 320 for displaying images using organic ELphenomenon. The organic EL panel 320 is configured to include aplurality of organic EL elements, which are self-emitting elements, anddoes not include configurations such as backlight, and thus thethickness thereof can be made sufficiently thin. As shown in FIG. 2, thedisplay displaying unit 300 of the present embodiment is a thin panelhaving a very thin thickness, the thickness t being suppressed to lessthan or equal to about a few mm (about 3 mm).

The arm unit 200 is arranged at one location on the back side of thebody stand unit 100 and is arranged standing upward from the body standunit 100. The arm unit 200 is arranged more to the right side than thecenter in the transverse direction (horizontal direction) of the bodystand unit 100 when the display device 1000 is seen from the frontsurface side, and is connected on the right side than the center in thetransverse direction of the display displaying unit 300. Thus, in thedisplay device 1000 of the present embodiment, the arm unit 200 isarranged on one of the left or the right side from the center in thehorizontal direction of the display displaying unit 300, and the displaydisplaying unit 300 is supported in a cantilever manner. The arm unit200 may be connected at the end in the horizontal direction of thedisplay displaying unit 300. A cantilever structure may be obtained byconnecting the upper end of the arm unit 200 near the center in thehorizontal direction of the display displaying unit 300, and connectingthe lower end to the end of the body stand unit 100 as shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

A backlight is necessary in the case of a liquid crystal display, andthus the thickness of the display displaying unit becomes thicker andthe weight becomes heavier. In particular, considering usage for adisplay of displaying television pictures rather than for a computerdisplay, greater number of backlights is arranged than in the computerdisplay to ensure image quality as a television receiver. In addition tobacklights, an inverter for controlling the backlight is also necessaryin the liquid crystal display. Thus, in the case of the liquid crystaldisplay, the weight is heavier and the rigidity of the displaying unitincluding the arm unit is greatly enhanced to support the displaydisplaying unit in a cantilever manner, whereby the structure becomescomplicating and the weight becomes heavier. Therefore, it is notrealistic to support the liquid crystal display in a cantilever mannerin view of convenience of the user, manufacturing cost, and the like.

The organic EL panel is made up of organic EL elements, which areself-emitting elements, and thus does not require backlights andconfiguration members such as an inverter related thereto, and can beconfigured light only with the panel made of thin-plate glass.Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the display displayingunit 300 itself can be configured to a very light weight, and thedisplay displaying unit 300 can be supported in a cantilever manner.

The display displaying unit 300 is turnable in the direction of an arrowA1 in FIG. 2 with the coupling part with respect to the arm unit 200 asthe center, and the user can set a tilt position of the displaydisplaying unit 300 to a desired angle.

In the display panel of the related art, the member for supporting thedisplay panel supports the central part in the transverse direction ofthe display panel from the lower side in the case of one-point support.In the case of two-point support, the vicinity of both ends in thetransverse direction of the display panel is supported from the lowerside. In the present embodiment, the arm unit 200 is arranged shiftedfrom the central part in the transverse direction of the displaydisplaying unit 300 and the display displaying unit 300 is supported ina cantilever manner, and thus the arm unit 200 is out of the view of theuser, and the user can independently recognize only the display screen300 a. The user can get an impression as if the display displaying unit300 is floating on the body stand unit 100 without the arm unit 200. Theuser then can independently and closely look only at the display screen300 a by supporting the display displaying unit 300 in a cantilevermanner.

The degree of freedom in installing the arm unit 200 enhances sincethere is no need to connect the root of the arm unit 200 to the centralpart of the body stand unit 100. Thus, the installing position of thearm unit 200 with respect to the body stand unit 100 can be determinedin view of the arrangement etc. of the internal structure of the bodystand unit 100 and the substrate, and the degree of freedom of designcan be enhanced. The configuring members can be arranged in the mostefficient manner in view of the internal structure of the body standunit 100, and the size of the display device 1000 can be suppressed to aminimum. Furthermore, since the arm unit 200 is not arranged at thecentral part of the body stand unit 100, a wide effective space can becreated at the upper surface of the body stand unit 100, and the displaypart, the operation button, the LED display lamp etc. can be freelyarranged on the upper surface of the body stand unit 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, the arm unit 200 is arranged inclinedtowards the back surface of the display displaying unit 300 from therear side of the body stand unit 100. In FIG. 2, an inclination angle θof the arm unit 200 with respect to a perpendicular direction is about45 to 600. When the display displaying unit 300 is viewed from the frontsurface, the arm unit 200 will be hidden behind the display displayingunit 300, thereby suppressing the arm unit 200 from being recognized inthe view of the user. Therefore, the arm unit 200 can be reliablysuppressed from being recognized in the view of the user according tothe synergetic effect of arranging the arm unit 200 in a shifted mannerfrom the central part of the display displaying unit 300.

The connection state of the display displaying unit 300 and the bodystand unit 100 is suppressed from being directly recognized by the usersince only the display displaying unit 300 and the body stand unit 100appear in the view of the user and the arm unit 200 barely comes intoview. The user thus feel as if the display displaying unit 300 isfloating in space.

In the configuration of the present embodiment, the lightness of thedisplay displaying unit 300 is emphasized and recognized by the usersince the thickness of the display displaying unit 300 is very thin orabout a few mm. Therefore, for the user, the display displaying unit 300excelling in floating feeling and lightness is provided by thesynergetic effect with the feeling as if the display displaying unit 300is floating in space.

The user then can closely look at only the display content of thedisplay displaying unit 300, which is recognized as if floating inspace, and can concentrate on the display content without beingdistracted by other structures. A display device 1000 in which asatisfactory designability can be maintained while creating a feelingthe display screen 300 a is floating to the user, and in which thevisibility of the display screen 300 a is greatly enhanced can beprovided.

[Configuration of Arm Unit]

FIG. 3 is a frame format view showing a configuration of the arm unit200. As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 230 passing through the side face isformed in the arm unit 200 along the longitudinal direction thereof tohave a hollow structure. According to such hollow structure, the armunit 200 is configured by a first arm unit 210 positioned on the upperpart, and a second arm unit 220 positioned on the lower part. The firstarm unit 210 and the second arm unit 220 are configured to a thin flatplate shape and are arranged facing each other with the opening 230interposed in between, and the thickness of the first arm unit 210 andthe second arm unit 220 are suppressed to a minimum.

As described above, the display displaying unit 300 is very thin and isconfigured to excel in lightness and floating feeling. Therefore, withrespect to the arm unit 200 for supporting the display displaying unit300, a configuration excelling in lightness and floating feeling isobtained similar to the display displaying unit 300 by suppressing thethickness to a minimum with the hollow structure, and lightness andfloating feeling can be emphasized for the display device 1000 as awhole.

Since the weight of the liquid crystal display is heavy, it is difficultto have the arm unit as a hollow structure to obtain lightness andairiness in order to ensure strength. In the present embodiment, thenecessary strength can be ensured even if the arm unit 200 has a hollowstructure since the display displaying unit 300 is configured by theorganic EL panel 320. Therefore, the display displaying unit 300 can bereliably supported, and a satisfactory designability excelling inlightness and airiness can be ensured.

A cover 240 is placed over the upper surface of the first arm unit 210.A flexible print substrate 250 for electrically connecting the bodystand unit 100 and the display displaying unit 300 is incorporatedbetween the upper surface of the first arm unit 210 and the cover 240.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are frame format views showing the configuration of thearm unit 200 in detail. FIG. 4A is a front view of the arm unit 200 seenfrom the front surface side of the display displaying unit 300, FIG. 4Bis a left side view, FIG. 4C is a right side view, FIG. 4D is a topview, FIG. 4E is a bottom view, FIG. 4F is a rear view, and FIG. 4G is across sectional view taken along a chain dashed line I-I′ in FIG. 4C.The body of the arm unit 200 with the cover 240 detached can beconfigured as an integrated block through casting or machining withmetal such as aluminum as the raw material.

FIGS. 5A to 5G are frame format views showing a configuration of thecover 240 in detail. FIG. 5A is a front view of the cover 240 seen fromthe front surface side of the display displaying unit 300, FIG. 5B is aleft side view, FIG. 5C is a right side view, FIG. 5D is a top view,FIG. 5E is a bottom view, FIG. 5F is a rear view, and FIG. 5G is a crosssectional view taken along a chain dashed line II-II′ in FIG. 5C. Asshown in FIGS. 5A to 5G, the cover includes a concave part 242, andsides walls 242 a on both sides of the concave part 242 fit into theside faces in the width direction of the first arm unit 210. Theflexible print substrate 250 is arranged between the first arm unit 210and the cover 240 while being accommodated at the bottom of the concavepart 242. The flexible print substrate 250 thus is not exposed to theoutside.

The weight of the display displaying unit 300 can be suppressed to aminimum, and the necessary strength can be ensured even if the arm unit200 has a hollow structure by configuring the display displaying unit300 with the organic EL panel 320. The display displaying unit 300configured to be light and thin is obtained, and floating feeling andairiness can be evoked on the user by having the arm unit 200 as ahollow structure and suppressing the volume of the arm unit 200 to aminimum. A structure that prevents the user from being aware of theexistence of the wiring is obtained by incorporating the flexible printsubstrate 250 in the first arm unit 210.

The arm unit 200 may be made of transparent resin material such aspolycarbonate and acryl, transparent glass, or the like. A structurethat prevents the user from being aware of the existence of the arm unit200 can be further obtained by having the arm unit 200 transparent.Therefore, the user can look at the display screen 300 a, and furtherfloating feeling and airiness of the display device 1000 can be evokedon the user.

[Configuration of Display Displaying Unit]

FIG. 6 is a frame format view showing a configuration of the displaydisplaying unit 300, and shows an exploded perspective view of thedisplay displaying unit 300. As shown in FIG. 6, the display displayingunit 300 is configured to include a bezel 310, the organic EL panel 320,a graphite sheet 330, a base plate 340, a T-substrate 350, a hinge 360,a rear cover 420, and a T-cover 430.

The base plate 340 is a member that constitutes the main frame of thedisplay displaying unit 300, where the arm unit 200 is coupled to thebase plate 340 by way of the hinge 360. The main configuring memberssuch as the organic EL panel 320, the T-substrate 350, and the hinge 360are fixed with respect to the base plate 340. The main membersconfiguring the display displaying unit 300 such as the organic EL panel320, the T-substrate 350, the hinge 360, the rear cover 420, and theT-cover 430 are all attached with the base plate 340 as a reference.

The graphite sheet 330 is attached to the back surface of the organic ELpanel 320. The organic EL panel 320 is fixed to the base plate 340through adhesive tape with the surface attached with the graphite sheet330 facing the base plate 340.

The T-substrate 350 is made of hard substrate, and is connected with thepower supply line and the signal line connecting with the organic ELpanel 320. The size of the T-substrate 350 corresponds to the size ofthe base plate 340, and the T-substrate 350 is fixed on the sideopposite to the surface fixed with the organic EL panel 320 with respectto the base plate 340.

The hinge 360 is a configuring member for coupling the arm unit 200 andthe base plate 340. The hinge 360 is configured to include configuringmembers such as a first hinge plate 362 and a second hinge plate 364made of metal and having a triangular plan shape, a shaft 366 made ofmetal, and the like. The shaft 366 is arranged horizontally along thelower end of the display displaying unit 300. The first hinge plate 362and the second hinge plate 364 are fixed with respect to the base plate340, and are turnably attached with respect to the shaft 366. The shaft366 is fixed with respect to the arm unit 200. Therefore, the base plate340 can turn with respect to the shaft 366 fixed to the arm unit 200, inwhich case the center axis of rotation becomes the center axis of theshaft 366. Thus, the display displaying unit 300 can be turned in thedirection of the arrow A1 in FIG. 2, and the tilt angle of the displaydisplaying unit 300 can be varied.

The bezel 310 is a member that is attached at the edge of the organic ELpanel 320, and that constitutes the outer appearance of the edge of thedisplay displaying unit 300. The rear cover 420 and the T-cover 430 aremetal covers that cover the back surface of the display displaying unit300. The rear cover 420 has an opening 422 formed at a portioncorresponding to the position of the T-substrate 350 and the hinge 360,and mainly covers the upper part of the back surface of the displaydisplaying unit 300. The T-cover 430 is configured to be attached incorrespondence to the position of the opening 422 so as to cover theT-substrate 350 and the hinge 360.

The base plate 340, the T-substrate 350, and the hinge 360 are allarranged only at the region of less than half of the lower side of thedisplay displaying unit 300, and the area occupied by the base plate340, the T-substrate 350, and the hinge 360 with respect to the area ofthe entire display displaying unit 300 is suppressed to a minimum. Otherthan the region arranged with the base plate 340, the T-substrate 350,and the hinge 360, only three members of mainly the organic EL panel320, the graphite sheet 330, and the rear cover 420 define the thicknessof the display displaying unit 300. Therefore, in the region includingthe upper half of the display displaying unit 300, in particular, thethickness of the display displaying unit 300 can be very thin, and thethickness can be suppressed to about 3 nm, as described above.

Since the display device 1000 is normally placed on the table etc., theuser rarely sees the display displaying unit 300 from the lower side,and the thickness of the display displaying unit 300 is recognized fromthe upper side. Therefore, the thinness of the display displaying unit300 can be emphasized to the user by arranging the members such as thebase plate 340, the T-substrate 350, and the hinge 360 on the lower sideof the display displaying unit 300, and suppressing the thickness on theupper side of the display displaying unit 300 to a minimum. Therefore, asatisfactory designability can be maintained while creating a floatingfeeling and airiness as described above.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are plan views showing a configuration of the base plate340. FIG. 7A is a front view of the base plate 340 seen from the rearsurface side of the display displaying unit 300, FIG. 7B is a bottomview of FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7C is rear view of FIG. 7A. The base plate 340is configured from a press molded metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 7A to7C, a plurality of screw holes 342, 344 is formed in the base plate 340.The screw hole 342 is used to fix the first hinge plate 362 and thesecond hinge plate 364. The other screw hole 344 is used to fixecomponents of the display displaying unit 300 such as the T-substrate350 and the T-cover 430.

The bezel 310 is fixed to the periphery of the organic EL panel 320through adhesion. As shown in FIG. 6, an opening 312 for exposing thedisplay screen 300 a of the organic EL panel 320 is formed in the bezel310.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are frame format views showing a configuration of therear cover 420. FIG. 8A is a front view of the rear cover 420 seen fromthe front surface side of the display displaying unit 300, and FIG. 8Bis a rear view of the rear cover 420 seen from the rear surface side ofthe display displaying unit 300.

FIGS. 9A to 9G are frame format views showing a configuration of theT-cover 430. FIG. 9A is a front view of the T-cover 430 seen from thefront surface side of the display displaying unit 300, FIG. 9B is a leftside view, FIG. 9C is a right side view, FIG. 9D is a top view, FIG. 9Eis a bottom view, FIG. 9F is a rear view, and FIG. 9G is a crosssectional view taken along a chain dashed line III-III′ in FIG. 9A.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, an opening 422 is formed in the rear cover420 in correspondence to the position of the base plate 340, theT-substrate 350, and the hinge 360. A pass-through hole 424 forinserting the screw to fix the rear cover 420 is formed in the rearcover 420. The rear cover 420 is fixed with respect to the bezel 310, asdescribed later, to cover the upper part of the rear surface side of theorganic EL panel 320.

FIG. 10 shows a state of the display device 1000 seen from the rearsurface side with the T-cover 430 detached. The base plate 340, theT-substrate 350, and the hinge 360 are arranged in the region on thelower side of the display displaying unit 300, where the T-substrate 350and the hinge 360 are exposed to the outside from the opening 422 of therear cover 420 with the T-cover 430 detached.

As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9G, the T-cover 430 includes a concave part 432corresponding to the shaft 366 of the hinge 360, and a concave part 434corresponding to a region arranged with the base plate 340, theT-substrate 350, the first hinge plate 362, and the second hinge plate364. A cutout 436 is formed in the T-cover 430 at a positioncorresponding to the arm unit 200.

When the T-cover 430 is placed over the rear cover 420, the shaft 366 isaccommodated in the concave part 432, and the T-substrate 350, the firsthinge plate 362, and the second hinge plate 364 are accommodated in theconcave part 434. Thus, the configuring members such as the T-substrate350 and the hinge 360 are covered with the T-cover 430, as shown in FIG.1B. The arm unit 200 is projected towards the back side from the cutout436 of the T-cover 430.

Therefore, only the rear cover 420, the T-cover 430, and the arm unit200 are exposed to the outside at the rear surface side of the displaydisplaying unit 300, and a very simple and sophisticated outerappearance can be obtained. In particular, the display displaying unit300 that is very thin and that has a floating feeling and lightness canbe configured since the configuring members related to thickness at theupper side of the display displaying unit 300 are mainly three membersof the organic EL panel 320, the graphic sheet 330, and the rear cover420. The display displaying unit 300 having sufficient strength whilebeing very thin can be configured since the base plate 340 is a rigidmember of the display displaying unit 300 and the main components of thedisplay displaying unit 300 are fixed with respect to the base plate340.

[Configuration of Hinge]

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state of the display device 1000 seen fromthe rear surface side, showing a state in which the members such as therear cover 420 and the bezel 310 are detached from the state of FIG. 10.FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the hinge 360.

FIGS. 13A to 13E are frame format views showing a configuration of thehinge 360 in detail. FIG. 13A is a front view of the hinge 360 seen fromthe rear surface side of the display displaying unit 300, FIG. 13B is aright side view, FIG. 13C is a top view, FIG. 13D is a bottom view, andFIG. 13E is a rear view.

The shaft 366 of the hinge 360 is fixed with respect to the arm unit200. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4G, a receiving surface 202 to be attachedwith the shaft 366 is arranged at the distal end of the upper part ofthe arm unit 200. A boss 202 a and a hole 202 b are formed in thereceiving surface 202.

As shown in FIG. 12, a flat surface 372 is formed at one part of theouter peripheral surface of the shaft 366. The flat surface 372 isformed with a hole 372 a to be inserted with the boss 202 a of thereceiving surface 202 of the arm unit 200. The flat surface 372 isformed with a screw hole 372 b at a position corresponding to the hole202 b.

The flat surface 372 contacts the receiving surface 202 of the arm unit200, and the boss 202 a is inserted to the hole 372 a. In this state,the screw is inserted to the hole 202 b from the back side of the armunit 200 and screwed into the screw hole 372 b so that the shaft 366 isfixed to the arm unit 200. As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft 366 of thehinge 360 and the arm unit 200 are integrated. The integrated shaft 366and the arm unit 200 become a rigid member that supports the displaydisplaying unit 300.

The shaft 366 is arranged horizontally along the lower side of thedisplay displaying unit 300. The first hinge plate 362 and the secondhinge plate 364 are turnably engaged to the shaft 366 with the shaft 366as the center axis of rotation.

As shown in FIG. 13A, a plurality of holes 362 f is formed in the firsthinge plate 362. A plurality of holes 364 f is formed in the secondhinge plate 364. The holes 362 f, 364 f correspond to the position ofthe screw hole 342 of the base plate 340, and the first hinge plate 362and the second hinge plate 364 are fixed with respect to the base plate340 with the T-substrate 350 interposed in between the base plate 340 byscrewing in the screw inserted to the holes 362 f, 364 f to the screwhole 342 of the base plate 340. The first hinge plate 362 and the secondhinge plate 364 thereby become strength members for ensuring therigidity of the display displaying unit 300 with the base plate 340.

FIGS. 14A to 14C are frame format views showing a configuration of theshaft 366 in detail. FIG. 14A is a front view showing the shaft 366 fromthe rear surface side of the display displaying unit 300, the right sideview, and the left side view. FIG. 14B is a cross section taken alongthe center axis of the shaft 366. FIG. 14C is a cross section takenalong a chain dashed line IV-IV′ in FIG. 14A.

As shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the shaft 366 is divided at the middle toinclude two shafts 368 and 370. The above-described flat surface 372 isarranged on the shaft 368.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a groove 375 is formed at a portion wherethe shaft 368 and the shaft 370 are coupled. An engagement shaft 368 ato be inserted to an engagement hole 370 a of the shaft 370 is arrangedat the end of the shaft 368. The flat surface 370 g is formed at the endof the shaft 370.

As shown in FIG. 14B, two holes 368 b to be inserted with a pin 369 areformed at the engagement shaft 368 a of the shaft 368. Two holes 370 bto be inserted with the pin 369 are formed at the portion where the flatsurface 370 g of the shaft 370 is formed.

The shaft 368 and the shaft 370 are fixed by inserting and caulking thepin 369 to the hole 368 b and the 370 b with the engagement shaft 368 ainserted to the engagement hole 370 a. In this case, the outer diameterof the pin 369 and the inner diameter of the hole 368 b and the hole 370b are fitted and fixed by caulking.

As shown in FIG. 14A, an engagement shaft 368 c is arranged at the endof the shaft 368 on the side opposite to the engagement shaft 368 a. Theengagement shaft 368 d is arranged at the position of the groove 357. Ahole 368 e of a predetermined depth is formed along the center axis inthe engagement shaft 368 c. An engagement groove 368 f of apredetermined depth is formed at one part of the end face of theengagement shaft 368 c.

Similarly, an engagement shaft 370 c is arranged at the end of the shat370. A hole 370 e of a predetermined depth is formed along the centeraxis in the engagement shaft 370 c. An engagement groove 370 f of apredetermined depth is formed at one part of the end face of theengagement shaft 370 c.

As shown in FIGS. 12, and 13A to 13E, two engagement parts 362 a, 362 bthat engage with the engagement shafts 368 c, 368 d at both ends of theshaft 368 are formed at both ends of the first hinge part 362 throughbend processing. A pass-through hole 362 c (not shown in FIGS. 12, and13A to 13E) is formed in the engagement parts 362 a, 362 b.

One engagement part 364 a that engages the engagement shaft 370 carranged at one end of the shaft 370 is formed at one end of the secondhinge plate 364 through bend processing. As shown in FIG. 13B, apass-through hole 364 c is formed in the engagement part 364 a.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are frame format views showing an engagement state ofthe first hinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate 364, and the shaft366, showing the shaft 366 from the lower side of the display displayingunit 300. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the first hinge plate 362 isturnably attached to the shaft 366. FIG. 15B shows a state in which thesecond hinge plate 364 is turnably attached to the shaft 366.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the pass-through hole 362 c of the engagement part362 a of the first hinge part 362 is inserted to the engagement shaft368 c of the shaft 368 with a washer 378 inserted to the engagementshaft 368 c. The pass-through hole 362 c of the engagement part 362 b isinserted to the engagement shaft 368 d. A lock position regulating plate380 is attached to the distal end of the engagement shaft 368 c with aspring washer 379 inserted to the engagement shaft 368 c, and a caulkingpin 382 is pushed into the hole 368 e thereby fixing the caulking pin382 to the hole 368 e. The lock position regulating plate 380 is fixedat the distal end face of the engagement shaft 368 c, and the firsthinge plate 362 is turnably attached to the shaft 368.

As shown in FIG. 15B, the pass-through hole 364 c of the engagement part364 a of the second hinge plate 364 is inserted to the engagement shaft370 c with a washer 378 inserted to the engagement shaft 370 c, and aspring washer 379 is inserted to the engagement shaft 370 c. The lockposition regulating plate 380 is attached to the distal end of theengagement shaft 370 c, and the caulking pin 382 is pushed into the hole370 e thereby fixing the caulking pin 382 to the hole 370 e. The lockposition regulating plate 380 is fixed at the distal end face of theengagement shaft 370 c, and the second hinge plate 364 is turnablyattached to the shaft 370.

When assembling the hinge 360, the pass-through hole 362 c of theengagement part 362 b of the first hinge plate 362 is first inserted tothe engagement shaft 368 d of the shaft 368 with the shaft 366 separatedinto the shaft 368 and the shaft 370. The washer 378 is inserted to theengagement shaft 368 c, and the pass-through hole 362 c of theengagement part 362 a is inserted to the engagement shaft 368 c.

The engagement shaft 368 a of the shaft 368 is inserted to theengagement hole 370 a of the shaft 370, the pin 369 is inserted andcaulked to the hole 368 b and the hole 370 b to fix and integrate theshaft 368 and the shaft 370. A groove 375 is formed between the shaft368 and the shaft 370, and the engagement part 362 b is engaged with theengagement shaft 368 d in the groove 375.

The washer 378 is then inserted to the engagement shaft 370 c of theshaft 370, and the pass-through hole 364 c of the engagement part 364 aof the second hinge part 364 is inserted to the engagement shaft 370 c.The spring washer 379 is inserted to the engagement shaft 368 c and theengagement shaft 370 c at both ends of the shaft 366, the lock positionregulating plate 380 is attached to the distal end face of theengagement shaft 368 c and the engagement shaft 370 c, and the caulkingpin 382 is inserted and caulked to the hole 368 e and the hole 370 e.

The first hinge plate 362 is turnably supported with respect to theshaft 366 since the pass-through hole 362 c of the engagement parts 362a, 362 b arranged at two locations are turnably engaged with respect tothe engagement shafts 368 c, 368 d at both ends of the shaft 368. Thesecond hinge plate 364 is turnably supported with respect to the shaft366 since the pass-through hole 364 c of the engagement part 364 aarranged at one location is turnably engaged with respect to theengagement shaft 370 c at one end of the shaft 370. Therefore, both thefirst hinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate 364 are turnablyattached with respect to the shaft 366.

Therefore, the display displaying unit 300 can be turnably supportedwith the shaft 366 which is the rigid member as a center axis ofrotation by attaching the first hinge plate 362 and the second hingeplate 364 to the base plate 340.

In the present embodiment, the first hinge plate 362 and the secondhinge plate 364 are turnably supported with respect to the shaft 366,but one hinge plate may be turnably supported. However, if the shaft 366is long, the hinge plate might deform in a direction away from the shaftat the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 366 ifthe hinge plate is turnably supported at the engagement part arranged atboth ends of one hinge plate. The hinge plate might twist in therotating direction and a difference in rotation angle position might becreated between both ends of the hinge plate, whereby the hinge plate isunable to rotate smoothly. If the hinge plate is divided into the firsthinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate 364 and two engagement parts362 a, 362 b are arranged at both ends of the first hinge plate 362 asin the present embodiment, the engaging location with the shaft 366 canbe increased to three locations in the hinge plate as a whole, therebysuppressing the hinge plate from deforming in the direction away fromthe shaft near the middle portion of the shaft 366. The rigidity of eachhinge plate is increased and the twist of the hinge plate can besuppressed by dividing the hinge plate, whereby the rotation anglepositions of the first hinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate 364 atboth ends of the shaft 366 become the same. Therefore, the first hingeplate 362 and the second hinge plate 364 smoothly turn with respect tothe shaft 366, and the tilt operation of the display displaying unit 300can be smoothly carried out.

[Turning Lock Mechanism of Hinge Plate]

FIG. 16 is a frame format view showing the lock position regulatingplate 380. The lock position regulating plate 380 is formed by pressworking a plate material. As shown in FIG. 16, the lock positionregulating plate 380 is formed with a hole 380 a to be inserted with thecaulking pin 382, a projection 380 b engaging the engagement grooves 368f, 370 f at the distal end of the engagement shafts 368 c, 370 c, and aprojection 380 c for regulating the turning lock position of the firsthinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate 364.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are frame format views showing a state in which therotation angle position of the first hinge plate 362 and the secondhinge plate 364 are regulated by the projection 380 c of the lockposition regulating plate 380. FIG. 17A shows a state of the engagementpart 362 a of the first hinge plate 362 seen from the direction of anarrow A2 in FIG. 13A. FIG. 17B shows a state of the engagement part 364a of the second hinge plate 364 seen from the direction of an arrow A3in FIG. 13A.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the engagement part 362 a of the first hinge plate362 is formed with a concave part 362 d at the contour thereof. When theprojection 380 b is inserted to the engagement groove 368 f to attachthe lock position regulating plate 380 to the distal end of theengagement shaft 368 c, the projection 380 c of the lock positionregulating plate 380 comes to the position of the concave part 362 d.When the first hinge plate 362 turns with the center axis of the shaft366 as the center of rotation, the end face 362 e on both sides of theconcave part 362 d contacts the projection 380 c thereby regulating theturnable range of the first hinge plate 362.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 17B, the engagement part 364 a of the secondhinge plate 364 is formed with a concave part 364 d at the contourthereof. When the projection 380 b is inserted to the engagement groove370 f to attach the lock position regulating plate 380 to the distal endof the engagement shaft 370 c, the projection 380 c of the lock positionregulating plate 380 comes to the position of the concave part 364 d.When the second hinge plate 362 turns with the center axis of the shaft366 as the center of rotation, the end face 364 e on both sides of theconcave part 364 d contacts the projection 380 c thereby regulating thetumble range of the second hinge plate 364.

The angular range of the two end faces 362 e of the concave part 362 dof the first hinge plate 362 and the angular range of the two end faces364 e of the concave part 364 d of the second hinge plate 364 are thesame. As shown in FIG. 14A, the engagement grooves 368 f and 370 f forregulating the angular position of the lock position regulating plate380 are positioned on the same angular position with respect to thecenter axis of the shaft 366 by defining the relative angular positionof the shaft 368 and the shaft 370 with the pin 369. Thus, the angularposition of the projection 380 c with respect to the two end faces 362 eof the concave part 362 d is the same as the angular position of theprojection 380 c with respect to the two end faces 364 e of the concavepart 364 d. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the relationshipα11=α21 is met when moving the tilt of the display displaying unit 300upward, where α11 is the movable angle of the first hinge plate 362 andα12 is the movable range of the second hinge plate 364. The relationshipα12=α22 is met When moving the tilt of the display displaying unit 300downward, where α12 is the movable angle of the first hinge plate 362and α22 is the movable range of the second hinge plate 364.

Therefore, when moving the tilt of the display displaying unit 300upward or downward, the position at where the tilt is locked is the sameposition in both the first hinge plate 362 and the second hinge plate364. Thus, the tilt position can be simultaneously locked at both endsof the shaft 366, where twist is reliably suppressed from occurringbetween the display displaying unit 300 and the shaft 366 when the tiltposition is locked. Therefore, the upper side of the display displayingunit 300 can be suppressed from inclining with respect to the centeraxis of the shaft 366 at the lock position, and a smooth movement of thedisplay displaying unit 300 can be realized.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are frame format views showing another example of aconfiguration of connecting the shaft 368 and the shaft 370. FIG. 18A isa cross section taken along the center axis of the shaft 366. FIG. 18Bis a frame format view showing a cross section taken along a chaindashed line V-V′ in FIG. 18A. In the example of FIGS. 18A and 18B, theengagement shaft 368 d of the shaft 368 is inserted to a hole 370 h ofthe shaft 370, and a key 370 i of the hole 370 h and the key groove 368g of the engagement shaft 368 d are engaged to regulate the angularposition of the shaft 368 and the shaft 370. The shaft 368 and the shaft370 are configured so that the shaft 368 does not slip out from theshaft 370 by caulking the fixing caulking pin 367 to the shaft 370. Insuch configuration as well, the angular positions of the engagementgroove 368 f of the shaft 368 and the engagement groove 370 f of theshaft 370 can be regulated, and the position at where the tilt positionis locked becomes the same in both the first hinge plate 362 and thesecond hinge plate 364.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A display device comprising: a body unit; a display unit; and asupporting unit, arranged upright from the body unit, for supporting thedisplay unit; wherein the supporting unit has a hollow structure formedwith a pass-through opening and includes two arm units arranged facingeach other by way of the opening.
 2. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein a flexible print substrate for electrically connectingthe body unit and the display unit is accommodated in one of the armunits.
 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a cover forcovering the flexible print substrate is arranged on the one arm unit.4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the two arm unitsare arranged above and below, the flexible print substrate beingaccommodated in the arm unit arranged on the upper side.
 5. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the two arm units are formed to aflat plate shape and are faced to each other by way of the opening. 6.The display device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting unit isarranged on either left or right side from a center in a horizontaldirection of the display unit, and supports the display unit in acantilever state.
 7. The display device according to claim 1, whereinthe supporting unit is arranged upright at a predetermined position onthe body unit on a back surface side of the display unit, and isarranged inclined towards the display unit with respect to aperpendicular direction.
 8. The display device according to claim 1,wherein the display unit is connected to the supporting unit by way of ahinge for turnably supporting the display unit with respect to a centeraxis of rotation in the horizontal direction.